--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and…" description: "\"“The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decayed, Lets in new light, thro' chinks that time hath made.”\" — Edmund Waller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/edmund-waller-11162_soul-dark_the-soul-s-dark-cottage-batter-d-and-dec_796637.png" --- # The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decayed, Lets in new… ![“The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decayed, Lets in new light, thro' chinks that time hath made.” quote by Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/edmund-waller-11162_soul-dark_the-soul-s-dark-cottage-batter-d-and-dec_796637.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/edmund-waller-11162_soul-dark_the-soul-s-dark-cottage-batter-d-and-dec_796637.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/edmund-waller-11162_soul-dark_the-soul-s-dark-cottage-batter-d-and-dec_796637.png) > ““The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decayed, Lets in new light, thro' chinks that time hath made.”” [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even a decayed, dark inner self can admit new insight through the small openings created by time. **In simple terms:** Even broken souls can gain new light. Key Takeaway Seek growth through life's cracks. Themes spirituality resilience transformation Mood hopeful reflective Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - creative writing - therapy - mindfulness Key Concepts inner darkness renewal time's passage Questions to Reflect On - How can we find hope in personal decay? - What ' open the 'cracks' for new insight? A Different Perspective May romanticize suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decay'd, Lets in new light through chinks that Time has made. 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It must be so lonely. Lost within your ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/five-finger-death-punch/it-s-stranger-than-fiction-how-you-ve-decayed-it-must-be-so-lonely/) [Five Finger Death Punch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/five-finger-death-punch/) > [“First I was decayed, I was putrefied. Kept thinking I could never live on, now that I had died...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelika-rust/first-i-was-decayed-i-was-putrefied-kept-thinking-i-could-never-live/) [Angelika Rust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelika-rust/) > [“Everything decayed, the perfectly ordered crystal eventually turned into random particles of dust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/everything-decayed-the-perfectly-ordered-crystal-eventually-turned/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“I carry their beauty inside the very soul of my being. Dark with shades of grey. White with storm clouds in the distance. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/i-carry-their-beauty-inside-the-very-soul-of-my-being-dark-with/) [Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/) > [Nowadays we are forced with so many things in life in society that all of the sudden we are no longer in tune with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-marc-barr/nowadays-we-are-forced-with-so-many-things-in-life-in-society-that/) Jean-Marc Barr > [“There are moments in one’s life that can put a shadow on the soul. A dark stain that changes a person—for better or worse—and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-illene/there-are-moments-in-one-s-life-that-can-put-a-shadow-on-the-soul-a/) [Susan Illene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-illene/) > [“This man was dangerous. His soul was dark. And if I wasn’t careful, he would drag me down into his hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-knight/this-man-was-dangerous-his-soul-was-dark-and-if-i-wasn-t-careful-he/) [Natasha Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-knight/) > [The Russian soul is a dark place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-russian-soul-is-a-dark-place/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Rebellion flamed up in her soul as the dark hours passed by – not because she had no future but because she had no past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rebellion-flamed-up-in-her-soul-as-the-dark-hours-passed-by-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I cannot love a soul so dark it eats up others' light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/i-cannot-love-a-soul-so-dark-it-eats-up-others-light/) [Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/) > [My soul is dark with stormy riot: directly traced over to diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-hoffenstein/my-soul-is-dark-with-stormy-riot-directly-traced-over-to-diet/) [Samuel Hoffenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-hoffenstein/) ## More by Edmund Waller > [Leaving the old, both worlds at once they view, That stand upon the threshold of the new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/leaving-the-old-both-worlds-at-once-they-view-that-stand-upon-the/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Could we forbear dispute, and practice love, We should agree as angels do above. Where love presides, not vice alone does find, No entrance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/could-we-forbear-dispute-and-practice-love-we-should-agree-as-angels/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Soft words, with nothing in them, make a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/soft-words-with-nothing-in-them-make-a-song/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Music so softens and disarms the mind That not an arrow does resistance find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/music-so-softens-and-disarms-the-mind-that-not-an-arrow-does/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Lampoons, like squibs, may make a present blaze; but time and thunder pay respect to bays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/lampoons-like-squibs-may-make-a-present-blaze-but-time-and-thunder/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [The fear of Hell, or aiming to be blest, Savors too much of private interest. This moved not Moses, nor the zealous Paul, Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/the-fear-of-hell-or-aiming-to-be-blest-savors-too-much-of-private/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [All things but one you can restore; the heart you get returns no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/all-things-but-one-you-can-restore-the-heart-you-get-returns-no-more/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [To man, that was in th' evening made, Stars gave the first delight; Admiring, in the gloomy shade, Those little drops of light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/to-man-that-was-in-th-evening-made-stars-gave-the-first-delight/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [What use of oaths, of promise, or of test, where men regard no God but interest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/what-use-of-oaths-of-promise-or-of-test-where-men-regard-no-god-but/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [And as pale sickness does invade, Your frailer part, the breaches made, In that fair lodging still more clear, Make the bright guest, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/and-as-pale-sickness-does-invade-your-frailer-part-the-breaches-made/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Fade, flowers, fade! Nature will have it so; 'tis but what we in our autumn do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/fade-flowers-fade-nature-will-have-it-so-tis-but-what-we-in-our/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [For all we know Of what the blessed do above Is, that they sing, and that they love. While I listen to thy Voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/for-all-we-know-of-what-the-blessed-do-above-is-that-they-sing-and/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Virtue's a stronger guard than brass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/virtue-s-a-stronger-guard-than-brass/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Others may use the ocean as their road; Only the English make it their abode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/others-may-use-the-ocean-as-their-road-only-the-english-make-it-their/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Could we forbear dispute, and practise love, We should agree as angels do above.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/could-we-forbear-dispute-and-practise-love-we-should-agree-as-angels/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) [Explore all 61 Edmund Waller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) ## More Soul Dark quotes > [My soul is dark with stormy riot: directly traced over to diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-hoffenstein/my-soul-is-dark-with-stormy-riot-directly-traced-over-to-diet/) [Samuel Hoffenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-hoffenstein/) > [Rebellion flamed up in her soul as the dark hours passed by – not because she had no future but because she had no past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rebellion-flamed-up-in-her-soul-as-the-dark-hours-passed-by-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There are moments in one’s life that can put a shadow on the soul. A dark stain that changes a person—for better or worse—and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-illene/there-are-moments-in-one-s-life-that-can-put-a-shadow-on-the-soul-a/) [Susan Illene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-illene/) > [Nowadays we are forced with so many things in life in society that all of the sudden we are no longer in tune with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-marc-barr/nowadays-we-are-forced-with-so-many-things-in-life-in-society-that/) Jean-Marc Barr > [“I carry their beauty inside the very soul of my being. Dark with shades of grey. White with storm clouds in the distance. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/i-carry-their-beauty-inside-the-very-soul-of-my-being-dark-with/) [Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/) > [“This man was dangerous. His soul was dark. And if I wasn’t careful, he would drag me down into his hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-knight/this-man-was-dangerous-his-soul-was-dark-and-if-i-wasn-t-careful-he/) [Natasha Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-knight/) > [The Russian soul is a dark place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-russian-soul-is-a-dark-place/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decay'd, Lets in new light through chinks that Time has made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/the-soul-s-dark-cottage-batter-d-and-decay-d-lets-in-new-light/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [I cannot love a soul so dark it eats up others' light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/i-cannot-love-a-soul-so-dark-it-eats-up-others-light/) [Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/) > [The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decay'd, Lets in new light through chinks that Time has made. Stronger by weakness, wiser men become As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/the-soul-s-dark-cottage-batter-d-and-decay-d-lets-in-new-light-2/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) Browse all 11 Soul Dark quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decayed, Lets in new light, thro' chinks that time hath made.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edmund Waller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/the-soul-s-dark-cottage-batter-d-and-decayed-lets-in-new-light-thro/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Soul Dark" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/the-soul-s-dark-cottage-batter-d-and-decayed-lets-in-new-light-thro/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/edmund-waller-11162_soul-dark_the-soul-s-dark-cottage-batter-d-and-dec_796637.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/edmund-waller-11162_soul-dark_the-soul-s-dark-cottage-batter-d-and-dec_796637.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07a/edmund-waller-11162_soul-dark_the-soul-s-dark-cottage-batter-d-and-dec_796637.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decayed, Lets in new light, thro' chinks that time hath made.” — Edmund Waller", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edmund Waller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/the-soul-s-dark-cottage-batter-d-and-decayed-lets-in-new-light-thro/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/the-soul-s-dark-cottage-batter-d-and-decayed-lets-in-new-light-thro/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```